Vegetable slicing machine



May 26, 1936.

H. R. IRICK VEGETABLE SLIGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1934 Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED PATENT OFFICE Appellation November 2c, `1934, serial No. 754,814

" ticlii's'.' (cil 14e- 91) This invention relates to vegetable slicing machines andy `one object of the inventicncis' to proyide an implement of this characterwhich may be applied toV a kitchen table and vegetables easily is and quickly sliced and the slices delivered in to a bowl or other receptacle from a spout of the cylindrical body of tliedevice.` "f Ancther'cbjectof `the invention is to provide a vegetable slicer wherein thevegetables are placed in a hopper over a cylindrical casing and formed into slices by a cutter fotatably-fmounted infthe casing 'and of such constructionlthatthe tslices may pass to an outlet atene end of the casing; Another object' of the-invention is to provide the f'cutter with gauge plates serving to support the Vegetables in positiorrfor` slicing by sharpened edges o f the cutter, the platesbeing so mounted @that they may beV adjusted to control the thickness ofthe slices cut from thevegetables. 2b Another object of the `inventio ntisjteprovide improved adjusting means j fo'r" the supporting plates having Yactuating means disposedextertilly of 1the casing ysothat `adjustments may be v easilymade J A( Another object of the invention isto so'construct" the slicer that it may beleasily taken apart and f thoroughly cleaned. The invention is illustra d in the accompanying drawing`,whe'rein': 30 "Figure 1 'is av side elevation showing the improved vegetable Slicer applied `to atablefor use. "gurey Z-'isa viewshowingjthe s licer in longitudinalse'ction.- H Figure 3 is a view looking at the delivery end oftheslicer. 'p j Q u Figure 4 is a perspective view of the slicer.

Figure 5 is an enlargedffragmentary sectional View 4showing the operating mechanism for fthe slicer.H M Figure 6 is a fragmentary view lillust rating means used for cutting French friedpotatoes The improved vegetableslicerhas a cylindrical casing or barrel I which is closedjatone end'lby a head 2 andl has its other end open andshaped tenerme' a discharge spout B fromwhich'slices "out 4from vegetablespass vinto a bowl or other receptacle placed upon a table 4@with vs rhicli` the slic'er isfcnnectedby a bracketsecured to and `dependingfrom thebarrel I. inlet is formed irf the upper portion of the barrel andthrough municates with'the interior of the barrel;` l

'Ifhe slicer, by meansof which thevegetables are tobe cut into slices of 'afdesiredithicknfess, is mountedin the barrel and co'risis't's of a cylindrical body 6 which fits snugly in the barrel, as shown in Figure 2, and is open at its front end so that the slices may pass from it to the outlet at the'frontof the barrel.` llhe cylindrical body of the barrel is'formed in its Walls with openings 1 r5 each bordered by a diagonally extending cutting edge 8\ which may be formed by sharpening an edge portion of the wall of the slicer body or may consist of a blade formed separate from the slicer body and permanently or detachably secured 10 thereto so that it may be removed and sharpened when necessary.

Gaugeplates 9 extend across the openings 1 andeach ispivotally mounted at one end by a :pin `Il) mounted in a bearing II carried by the 15 wallof the slicer body as shown in Figure 2 and an arm I2 extending from the plate at the opposite side thereof from the pin I0 and projecting longitudinally from the plate. [This mounting arm is curved longitudinally, as shown in Figures 20 3 and 4 and terminates in a side extension or pin `I3 loosely engaged through an opening formed in the head I4 of the slicer body. It will thus be seen that the gauge plates will be pivotally mounted and may be tilted to dispose them in de- 25 vsir'ed' spaced relation to the cutting edge 8 and cause slices of a desired thickness to be cut from vegetables'placed in the hopper and resting upon 'the 4Slicer body and the gauge plates as the slicer Vis rotated. 30

In order to rotate the slicer there has been provided'a turning handle I5 having a hub extensionV I6 which projects through an opening 'formed in the head 2 of the barrel, as shown in Figure 5, andis secured to a disk or mounting 35 :member I Tfby screws I8. This disk is disposed `within the barrel and carries lugs I9 having reduced ends received in openings I9 formed in the head I4-of the slicer body and it will be readily vfunderstoc'id'that when the handle and mounting 40 'disk are turned the Slicer body will be turned withthem` to' successively bring the gauge plates andv cutting edges into position to pass under the Vhopper and cut slices from the vegetables in the ,hoppen 45 A fIvhe gauge plates must be adjusted and supported in an adjusted position and in order to do so there has been provided arms or rods 20 which project `from the gauge plates and pass through slots 2I formed in the head I4 of the Slicer. Theserodsare pivoted to llinks 22 which connect them toarm's 23 projecting radially from a hollow shaft' 24"`which'projects axially of the cutter from the head I4andis journaled through the hub end of the handle I5: Anouar 25 carried by the shaft 55 and secured thereon by set screws 26 prevents the shaft and slicer from slipping forwardly and, therefore, the lugs i9 will be retained in the openings I9. A bolt 2l carried by the head I4 projects through the shaft 24 with its threaded end projecting from the outer end thereof and to this threaded end is applied a nut 28 which, when tightened, binds the shaft to the slicer body and holds the shaft against rotation with the gauge plates in an adjusted position.

When this vegetable slicer is in use it is secured to a table, as shown in Figure l, and a bowl or y other receptacle placed upon the table under the spout 3. The vegetables are placed in the hopper and rest upon the cylindrical slicer body so that when this slicer body is rotated the gauge plates will move under the vegetables and the cutting edges cut their way through the vegetables. Rotation of the slicer is caused'by turning the handle i5 which carries with it the disk I1 and as the.

prongs of the disk are engaged through the openings in the head of the slicer body, the slicer will rotate. In view of the fact that the nut 28 will be tightened, the hollow shaft will be frictionally held to the slicer head and turn with the handle. Therefore, the gauge plates will be held in a set position. If, however, it is found that the slices are too thick or toothin, it is merely necessary to loosen the nut 28 and the collar can then be grasped and turned to rotate the shaft in a direction to extend or retrace the links 22. As the links are connected to the rods 20 projecting from the gauge plates these plates will be swung about their pivots to move the plates toward or away from the openings 9 and the cutting edges 8 and the thickness of slices cut from the vegetables in the hopper controlled. After the plates have been moved to the proper position the nut will be again tightened vand the plates will be firmly held in the adjusted positions. When it is desired to take thedevice apart in order to thoroughly clean it, the nut will be removed, thus releasing the bolt 21 and permitting the cutter and the boltY to be withdrawn through the open discharge end of the barrel. The collar can also be removed after releasing the set screws and Withdrawn from the hollow shaft,

'and the shaft, together with the disk or cross head, withdrawn from the barrel.

`modif-led form of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, the cylinder or slicer body, a fragment of which is shown and indicated by the numeral 29, will be formed with a desired number of openings each bordered by a cutting edge 30 corresponding to the cutting edges 8. Blades 3l are carried by the walls of the slicer body and project inwardly therefrom in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of the cutting edge 3l) and are welded or otherwiseV rmly secured. The gauge plate 32Y bears against the blades 3|, as shown in this figure, and. it will be readily seen that when the slicer is rotated, slices will be cut from potatoes placed in the hopper and the slices cut into strips for making French fried potatoes. It will be understood that cabbage may be cut for making slaw, or other vegetables out into strips if so desired. The gauge plates 32 may be adjustably mounted, as previously set forth, in order that space between the blades 30 can be thoroughly cleaned, or they may 4be mounted in any other manner desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a vegetable slicer, a barrel having a head at one end and having its other end portion formed with an outlet, an inlet being formed be- 5 tween the outlet and the headed end of the barrel, a cylindrical slicer rotatably mounted in said barrel and having a head at one end and an open discharge end facing the outlet of the barrel, said slicer having its annular wall formed 10 with an opening registering with the inlet as the slicer rotates and being sharpened along one side of the opening to form a cutting edge, a gauge plate in said slicer extending circumferentially thereof for the full length of the opening `15 and pivoted at a longitudinal side edge of the openingand extending across the opening for regulating the thickness of slices cut, actuating means for rotating said slicer journaled through the head of said barrel and having clutch means 20 at its inner end engaging the head of the slicer,

a sleeve extending through the actuating means of the slicer, means carried by the head of the slicer for releasably holding the sleeve in a set position and releasably holding the slicer in en- 25 gagement with the clutch means, and means for connecting said sleeve with the gauge plate and causing movement of the gauge plate to an adjusted position when the sleeve is turned about its axis. 3Q

2. Ina Vegetable slicer, a barrel having a head 40 said slicer pivoted at a side of the opening and extending acrossthe same for regulating the thicknessv of' slices cut, actuating means for rotating Vsaid slicer having a hub journaled through the head yof the barrel and at its inner end providedwith means adapted for engagement with the slicer, adjusting means for the gauge plate including aV sleeve extending through the hub and rotatable therein for eecting adjustment of the gauge plate, and a fastener carried by the slicer and extending through the sleeve for binding the sleeve to the slicer when tightened and causling the sleeve to turn with the slicer and hub of Ythe actuating means. Y

3. In a vegetable slicer, a barrel open at its front end and having an inlet between its ends,

a cutter rotatably. received in said barrel, a gauge adjustably-carried by said cutter for regulating thickness of slices cut when the cutter is rotated, operating means for said cutter having a hub journaled through the rear end of the barrel, adfjusting means for the gauge having an actuating element extending through the hub of the operating means of the cutter and rotatable therein to eirect adjustment of the gauge, a stem carried by the cutter and extending axially through the actuating'element, and a fastener threaded upon the outer end of the stem for engaging the outer end of the actuating element when tightened and binding the actuating element to the cutter .to cause rotation thereof with the cutter and its other end, a cylindrical slicer body in said barrel having an open end facing the discharge and a head at its inner end, a turning element having a hub extension rotatably engaged through the head of said barrel, a member carried by said hub within the barrel a-nd provided with lugs engaged through openings formed in the head of the Slicer body for imparting rotation to the slicer body, gauge plates pivoted in said slicer body for movement toward and away from openings formed in walls of the body, rods carried by said plates and projecting through slots formed in the head of the Slicer body, a hollow shaft projecting from the head of the slicer body axially thereof and journaled through the hub of the turning element, a collar carried by s-aid shaft and conning the hub between the collar and head of the barrel, a bolt extending from the head of the slicer body through the hollow shaft, a nut threaded upon said bolt for frictionally binding the shaft against the head of the slicer body and causing the shaft to turn with the slicer body, arms radiating from said shaft within the barrel, and links connecting said arms with the rods of said plates for shifting the plates about their pivots when the nut is loosened and the shaft turned.

HABEN R. IRICK. 

